Federal Judge Strikes Down DOT Policy Favoring Minority-Owned Businesses, Citing Constitutional Concerns
Frankfort, KY — A federal judge in Kentucky has declared that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s policy of prioritizing disadvantaged minority and women-owned businesses in federal funding for highway and transit projects is unconstitutional. This judgment strikes at the heart of efforts aimed at correcting historical imbalances in business opportunities. Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove of Frankfort, an appointee of former Republican President George W. Bush, delivered his decision on Monday, stating the 1983 federal program conflicts with the Constitution’s equal protection clause. This cessation comes as courts increasingly scrutinize governmental affirmative action-type policies. The establishment … Read more